The Israeli military said it had “begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” in Gaza after carrying out airstrikes that it said hit “dozens of terror targets and terrorists” in the Palestinian territory. The flare-up of violence on Tuesday sparked fears that the U.S.-brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas could crumble.
At least 104 Palestinians were killed in Israel’s strikes, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health.
The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that it would “continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly to any violation of it.”
An Israeli military source said Tuesday that IDF forces had been operating in Rafah, southern Gaza, to dismantle tunnels when enemy fire was directed at a structure and an engineering vehicle, killing Master Sergeant (Res.) Yona Efraim Feldbaum.
Shortly after, anti-tank missiles were fired at a separate armored vehicle and troops in the area, the Israeli military source said.
Hamas denied any involvement in the shooting.
Saeed M. M. T. Jaras/Anadolu/Getty
Later Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered Israel’s military to conduct “powerful strikes” in Gaza in response to ceasefire violations by Hamas.
In response, Hamas said it would delay the return of the remains of another hostage that had been expected to take place on Tuesday.
President Trump, who is on a trip to Asia, said Israel was justified in carrying out the strikes against Hamas, telling reporters on Wednesday: “As I understand it, they [Hamas] took out an Israeli soldier, so the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back.”
“Nothing is going to jeopardize” the ceasefire, Mr. Trump added. “You have to understand Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East, and they have to behave.”
On Wednesday, Hamas accused the Israeli military of committing “a large-scale massacre” overnight, “despite the agreement to halt the war.”
Israel’s strikes “reflect a clear lack of respect by the occupation government toward the mediators and guarantor states, which have failed to stop the occupation from continuing its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a statement.
Mohammed Hasan Abu Daqa, a Palestinian in Khan Younis, told CBS News’ team in Gaza that he believed Israel had breached the truce.
“We call on the Arab nations, on world leaders, on the International community to stand with the people of Gaza,” Abu Daqa said. “The people of Gaza are searching for food. They are searching for water. They are searching for freedom. They are asking for the crossings to be opened and for a decent life like everyone else.”